No immediate ratings change after anchor switches

Anchor changes at ABC’s two biggest newscasts have so far done nothing to shake NBC’s dominance in the ratings.

The Associated Press

Anchor changes at ABC’s two biggest newscasts have so far done nothing to shake NBC’s dominance in the ratings.

The Nielsen Co. says Diane Sawyer of ABC’s “World News” finished behind NBC’s Brian Williams on her first night and first week in competition. NBC’s “Today” show handily beat ABC’s “Good Morning America” during the first week of the George Stephanopoulos-Robin Roberts anchor team.

Sawyer moved from “Good Morning America” to “World News” to replace the retired Charles Gibson. Stephanopoulos moved up from Washington to take her morning job.

ABC says the ratings were about what they expected them to be.

The network has downplayed those debut weeks to avoid outsized expectations and to emphasize they’re in it for the long haul.